Fertilizer distributor



y 1951 G. N. LOOMIS 2,984,389

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTOR Filed Jan. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O O G p I 23 o o o o o o o o IN VFNTOR.

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ATTDRN EYS y 16, 1961 G. N. LOOMIS 2,984,389

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTOR Filed Jan. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

:00;; /1 z zwm/s ATTU R N EYS United 1 States Patent FERTILIZERDISTRIBUTOR George N. Lomis,Cardston, Alberta, Canada Filed Jan. 20, 1956, Ser. N0. 560,353

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-236) This invention relates to agricultural equipment, and 'more particularly to a device forspreading fertilizer or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a fertilizer distributor whieh will effectively 'spreador broadcast fertilizer over a desired area.

"Another object of the inventionis'to provide a fertilizer distributor which is adapted to be mounted on the rear of a tractor, and whereby thetractor power take-oif "is adapted to be used for driving an agitator which serves to break up any lumps in the fertilizer, there being an impeller or rotary'member which is adapted to broadcast or distribute fertilizer overthe desired area.

, "Another object of the invention is to provide a fertilizer distributor whichis extremely simple andinexpen- -sive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this application and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side "elevational View illustrating the fertilizer distributor of the present invention mounted on the rear of a tractor with one wheel removed.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational View of the assembly I of Figure l.

Figure 3is a topplan view of the assembly of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the fertilizer distributor. t

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken: at right angles to the view shown in Figure 4. L

Figure 6 is a rear elevational View illustrating a modified fertilizer distributor. I

Figure 7 is a side-elevational viewof the assembly shown in Figure 6 with one wheel removed.

"Figure 8 is a top plan view of the distributor shown in I Figures' 6 and 7. l Figure 9' is a vertical sectionalview taken through the l -fertilizer distributor of Figures '6, 7and 8. i

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevationalview' illustrating another modification. Figufe 11 is a perspective view illustrating the guide members for use with the modification of Figure 10. "Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral "10 designates a portion of a conventional tractor which includes the usual rear axle 11an'd"'r'ear wheels 12.

The present invention is directed to a fertilizer distrib utorand the'fertiliz'endis't'ributor of the presentin- 'ventionis' adaptedtobe't'nounted at therear of the tractor 10. Thus, extending rearwardly from the axle 11 is a pair of arms 14 which may be secured to the axle 11 by means of brackets 15. Braces 16 may be connected to the arms 14 for reinforcing or strengthening the assembly. Mounted on the arms 14 and secured thereto in any suitable manner, is a horizontally disposed platform or base 17, and extending upwardly from the platform 17 is a plurality of vertically disposed spaced parallel legs 18 the openings-53 onto the area to be fertilized.

ice

The top'of. the housing 19 is'open whereby a suitable quantity of fertilizer can be placed therein. Arranged within'the housing '19 is abaflie 20 which includes a pair of inclined orangularly arrangedsections 23 that are interconnected together by a lower curvedportio'n 22. The bafile 20 is provided with aplurality of apertures or openings 23 whereby the fertilizer can pass therethrough. p I I Extending into the housing 19 is a first shaft24 which has an agitator 25 mountedthereon, and the agitator 25 is adapted to rotate sons to break up any lumps which are in the fertilizer; For rotating the agitator 25, a pulley Z7 is mounted on the'outer end of the shaft 24, anda pulley28 is mounted on a power take-01f shaft 26. An endless belt "29is trained over the pair of pulleys "27 and 28. p l

The shaft 26 is -a"dapted'to be-connected to the power take-off of the tractor 10, and mounted on the shaft '26 is a bevel gear "30 which meshes with a beveled gear 31 and the bevel gear'*31 is secured to a vertically disposed shaft 32. A pulley 34 is'mounted on the lower end of the shaft 32,'an'd an "endless belt 36 is trained'over the 'pulley 34; the belt 36 being'also trained over a pulley 35 on the lowerend of" a fourth shaft 33. The shaft '33 exte'nds upwardly through the platforrn 17, and an impeller-37 is mounted on the upperend of the shaft' 33.

Arranged in the lower end of the housing 19 is a it guide member 38 which includes inclined walls 39 and lizer will be distributed or broadcast rearwardly over the area to be fertilized. A dooror apron 41 is hingedly connected to the lower portionof the housing 19'by means of hinges 42, and chains 43 have onexen'd connected tothe apron 41, while theother ends' of the chains 43are adjustably connected to brackets 44. free end of the "apron '41 terminates in a curved flange "45. :=By moving the chains'43, the position of theapron 41 can be raised or 'loweredso that the area over which the fertilizer is spread can be readily "controlled or adjusted.

Referring to Figures 6 through 9 'of the drawings, there Thus,-the fertilizer which lis thrown out through: the nozzles 47 will pass down throngh'the conduits 48 to a position contiguous to the ground so that "the assembly shown in -Figures 6 through 9 is especially suitable for use in applying fertilizer to row crops or the like. Slidevalves' 49 can be manually operated so as to control the flow 'ofnfertilizer(throughthe nozzles 47,

Figure 9. l l

Referring to Figures 10 and 11 there is shown a further modification *whereina casing j 50 is position below; the housing 19. -A&g'uide member 51 is arranged rearward'ly of the casing 50, and the guide memberSl includes a plurality of v-shaped channels 52.- .provided between certain .of the channels 52 so-that fer- 'tilizerfthrown up by theimpeller will. pass out through Openings '53 r are l Fronrthej-foregoing; it is apparent that there has been provided a fertilizer distributor which is adapted to be mounted at the rear of a tractor such as the tractor 10. In use, the arms 14 extend rearwardly from the tractor and are secured thereto in any suitable manner, as for example by means of the brackets 15. The arms 14 support a platform '17, and supported above the platform 17 is the hopper 19 which has its upper end open so that bulk fertilizer can be readily placed therein from a suitable container or the like.

the shaft '24 causes the rotation The fertilizer which is placed in the hopper or housing 19 passes down through the apertures 23 and the baffle .20 and the rotating agitator 25 helps break up any lumpsin the fertilizer. The fertilizer then passes downthrough the opening 40 and into the v path of the rotating impeller 37 so that this fertilizer is thrown out rearwardly over the area to be fertilized.

By adjusting the position of the chains 43, the apron 41 can be raised or lowered so that the curved flange 45 will control the area being fertilized.

The shaft26 is adapted to be connected to the usual power take-off on the tractor, and as the shaft 26 rotates, itcauses rotation of the shaft 24through the medium of the endless belt 29. Similarly, as the shaft 26 rotates, it causes rotation of the shaft 32 due to the provision of the intermeshing gears 30 and 3 1. As the shaft 32 rotates, it rotates the shaft 33 due to the provision of ,the endless belt 36. Rotation of the shaft 33 causes rotation of the impeller 37 which causes the fertilizer to be thrown out the back of the device. Rotation of n of the agitator 25 which breaks up any lumps in the fertilizer.

When it is desired'to direct the fertilizer to a particular area, for example, into the vicinity of row crops, the arrangement shown in Figures 6 through 9 is used. Thus, in Figures 6 through 9, the valves 49 may be opened or raised so that the fertilizer will be thrown back-wardly through the nozzles 47 and this fertilizer will then pass down through the conduits 48, and the fertilizer will leave through the lower open ends of the conduits.

In Figures 10 and 11 there is shown a further modification wherein the fertilizer is adapted to be thrown out through the spaces 53 between the V-shaped channel members 52.

The impeller 25 serves to scatter the fertilizer. The present invention can be used for spreading fertilizer for grain and crops, row crops, peas, beans, sugar beets and the like. The apron 41 can be raised or lowered so that the area being covered by the fertilizer can be controlled as desired. The curved flange 45 acts as a deflector for the fertilizer. The device can be made of any suitable material such as a material which will not .corrode or rust, and the size and shape of the parts can be varied as desired.

The broadcaster of the present invention can be placed at any. desired locality and the fan can be driven by means of a suitable engine if desired. The fertilizer distributor of the present invention will effectively spread or broadcast fertilizerover a desired area and the device can be operated either by the power take-off of a tractor or else it can be operated by a small motor and it also can be mounted on a wagon, truck, or cart of any type. I claim: 1. In a fertilizer distributor for attachment to a tractor, a-pair of spaced parallel arms, a platform supported by said arms, a casing mounted on said platform, a housing arranged above said casing, afirst shaft extending into said housing, an agitator mounted on said first shaft,

a second shaft adapted to be connected to the tractor power take-off, belt and pulley means connecting said firs't and second shafts together, a third shaft arranged at right angles with respect to said second shaft, bevel gear means connecting'said second and third shafts together, a fourth shaft extending upwardly into said casing, belt and pulley 'means connecting said third and fourth shafts together, an impeller mounted on the upper "end of said fourth shaft, a plurality of nozzles extending rearwardly from said casing, and downwardly projecting tubes depending from said nozzles and terminating contiguous to the ground.

2. In a fertilizer distributor for attachment to a tractor, a pair of spaced parallel arms, a platform supported by said arms, a casing mounted on said platform, a housing arranged above said casing, a first shaft extending into said housing, an agitator mounted on said first shaft, a second shaft adapted to be connected to the tractor power take-off, belt and pulley means connecting said first and second shafts together, a third shaft arranged at right angles with respect to said second shaft, bevel gear means connecting said second and third shafts together, a fourth shaft extending upwardly into said casing, belt and pulley means connecting said third and fourth shafts together, an impeller mounted on the upper end of said fourth shaft, a plurality of nozzles extending rearwardly from said casing, and downwardly projecting tubes depending from said nozzles and terminating contiguous to the ground, and manually operable slide valves connected to said nozzles.

3. A fertilizer distributor for attachment to a tractor, comprising a pair of spaced parallel arms, a horizontally disposed platform supported by said arms, a casing mounted on said platform, a housing arranged above saidcasing, the upper end of said housing being open, a first shaft extending into said housing, an agitator mounted on said first shaft for breaking up any lumps in the fertilizer, a second shaft adapted to be connected to the tractor power take-off, belt and pulley means connecting said first and second shafts together, a third tubes depending from said nozzles and terminating contiguous to the ground, whereby the fertilizer which is thrown out through the nozzles will pass down through the tubes to a position contiguous to the ground, so that fertilizer can be applied to row crops or the like, and a plurality of manually operable slide ,valves connected to said nozzles for controlling the fiow of fertilizer through the nozzles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 2,157,630 Root May 9, 1939 2,334,376 Bauer Nov. 16, 1943 2,336,113 McLaughlin Dec. 7, 1943 2,500,682 Hotfstetter Mar. 14, 1950 2,532,518 Scott Dec. 5, 1950 2,619,767 Woock Dec. 2, 1952 2,638,350 Lyerly May 12, 1953 2,668,060 Tygart Feb. 2, 1954 2,686,384 Lemmond Aug. 17, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,002,894 France Nov. 7, 1951 1,010,656 France Mar. 26, 1952 

